We just had the opportunity to test drive the new Cadillac CTS-V. While we can’t talk about it until next month, we added a couple of CTS-V pictures taken at the Monticello racetrack. For those of you who can afford the $125k entry fee plus the $75k yearly membership, this is the most luxurious and outrageous racetrack experience you will ever have. We’ll tell you more about the track when we publish our CTS-V driving impression next month ;)
CTS-V Test Drive
Cadillac keeps gunning for the Germans. This time Road and Track helped facilitate the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V’s “anytime, anywhere” challenge to the BMW M5. In the October 2008 issue, the magazine sets up a slugfest at Monticello Motor Club, 90 miles northwest of Manhattan. Each company gets to choose who drives these super sedans. BMW flies in its veteran racer Bill Auberlen, and General Motors chooses its Performance Vehicle Operations Director John Heinricy to pilot its rocket.
It’s a relatively good match up. The CTS-V has an over 50 horsepower advantage, but it also has a 150 lbs disadvantage. The new kid on the block also has the best advantage over the M5, about $28,000 less for the Caddy.
In the end the Cadillac’s best run was half a second quicker than the BMW. Victory for America! But BMW isn’t too disappointed, a new M5 is on the horizon…
As the new CTS sport sedan earns accolades and new owners, Cadillac takes the next leap forward by premiering the 2009 CTS-V, the brand’s ultimate expression of performance and luxury. Launching in the fourth quarter of 2008, the all-new CTS-V intends to combine the serious performance of an elite sports car with the poise and elegance of a prestigious luxury sedan.
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MORE POWER has been Detroit’s maxim ever since it had to battle its cross-town rivals for the American dollar. Now that automotive competition is global, General Motors is getting ready to do what the imports have done for years, smaller engines. Well at least as soon as customers ask for it. Thomas G. Stephens, General Motors Corp.’s executive vice president in charge of powertrains said U.S. customers will have to signal their readiness to accept smaller engines.
For example the Cadillac CTS could get a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and it can be done today, as Stephens says, "from a technical point of view". Other examples he gave included the turbocharged 4-cylinder Ecotec replacing a larger-displacement V6, or a direct-injected V6 standing in for the classic V8. "We’re ready. When (customers) want it (the option of smaller engines) - we’ll do it."
GM announced that two new version of the Cadillac CTS, coupe and station wagon will be built at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant for the coming model year.
In the first half of 2009, the plant that currently makes the Cadillac CTS, STS and SRX will begin producing two-door coupe and station wagon versions of the popular entry-level luxury CTS.
In addition, a diesel engine version of the CTS sedan will be launched to boost the vehicle’s appeal in Europe.
The new CTS coupe made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year.
The sport wagon will be important in the CTS lineup because such vehicles are popular in Europe, Caldwell said. Adding a specially designed 2.9-liter turbo diesel engine will further increase the vehicle’s appeal in Europe, where diesel-fueled cars are more prevalent.
Last week there were rumors saying that Europe will not get the CTS-V. But today Cadillac denied those rumors saying that Europe will indeed get the super-sedan.
The UK will only get the left-hand-drive version only.
The CTS-V is powered by a 6.2L LSA supercharged V-8 engine that delivers 550 hp and 550 lb.-ft. of torque. It lapped the Nurburgring in just over 7m59sec.
General Motors will unveil a wagon version of its successful Cadillac CTS this fall. It will compete with the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-class wagons. The wagon will go on sale next year and is destined for global sale. Also the coupe version will debut next year.
The SRX crossover will be replaced by a production version of the Provoq concept crossover as a 2010 model. If SRX has disappointed the sales, GM expects that the production version of the Provoq to be sold at around 60,000 to 70,000 units annually.
The current SRX is built on the Sigma architecture, also used for the CTS and STS. The next-generation SRX will be on a new architecture that is a blend of two GM front-wheel-drive architectures, Theta and Epsilon, and will likely be powered by a V-6 engine. In size it would be between the Saturn Vue and GM’s Lambda-based crossovers such as the Buick Enclave.
This is a very cool video of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V taking on the Milford Road Course at the Milford Proving Grounds to demonstrate the car’s performance. You will hear Lead Development Engineer, Chris Berube talking about getting the CTS-V ready for testing.
General Motors made official the specifications for the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 produces 556 HP at 6,100rpm and 551 pound-feet of torque at 3,800rpm.
CTS-V will make the 0-to-60mph sprint in just 3.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 12 seconds. The si-speed automatic version will hit a top speed of 175 mph, while the six-speed manual will go up to 191mph.
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Jalopnik received a document that reveals details about the 2010 CTS Station Wagon. With pricing between $37.500 and $42.500, the future model will compete with car like BMW 3-Series Wagon or Audi A4 Wagon.
It will be offered in two versions: AWD and RWD and will be offered with a choice of 3.0 liter 6 cylinders 260 hp or 3.6 liters, 304 hp direct injection engines. Both engine will be mated by a six speed automatic transmission.
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